330 OBSER VA TIONS ON BIRDS. 



one country to another. Our author, Mr. White, saw what 

 he deemed the actual migration of these birds, and which 

 he has described at p. 63 of his History of Selhorne ; and 

 of their congregating together on the roofs of churches and 

 other buildings, and on trees, previous to their departure, 

 many instances occur ; particularly I once observed a large 

 stock of house-martins on the roof of the church here at 

 Catsfield, which acted exactly in the manner here described 

 by Mr. White, sometimes preening their feathers and 

 spreading their wings to the sun, and then flying off all 

 together, but soon returning to their former situation. 

 The greatest part of these birds seemed to be young ones. 

 — Markwick. 



WAGTAILS. 



While the cows are feeding in the moist low pastures, 

 broods of wagtails, white and grey, run round them, close 

 up to their noses, and under their very bellies, availing 

 themselves of the flies that settle on their legs, and prob- 

 ably finding worms and larvce that are roused by the 

 trampling of their feet. Nature is such an economist, that 

 the most incongruous animals can avail themselves of each 

 other ! 



Interest makes strange friendships. — White. 



Birds continually avail themselves of particular and un- 

 usual circumstances to procure their food : thus wagtails 

 keep playing about the noses and legs of cattle as they 

 feed, in quest of flies and other insects which abound near 

 those animals ; and great numbers of them will follow close 

 to the plough to devour the worms, etc., that are turned up 

 by that instrument. The redbreast attends the gardener 

 when digging his borders ; and will, with great familiarity 



